Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palo

Archdiocese of Palo Archidioecesis Palensis Arkidiyosesis han Palo Arkidiyosesis sa Palo Arquidiócesis de Palo
Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lord's Transfiguration, Palo, Leyte
Location
Country	Philippines
Territory	Eastern Visayas except the Diocese of Maasin
Ecclesiastical province	Palo, Leyte
Metropolitan	Palo, Leyte
Statistics
Area	4,620 km2 (1,780 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2004) 1,572,472 1,257,977 (80%)
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	28 November 1937 (Diocese) 14 February 1982 (Archdiocese)
Cathedral	Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lord's Transfiguration in Palo, Leyte
Patron saint	Transfiguration of Our Lord
Secular priests	158 priests
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Metropolitan Archbishop	John Forrosuelo Du
Vicar General	Erlito A. Maraya, PhD
Emeritus Bishops	Pedro R. Dean Archbishop Emeritus (1985-2006)
Map
Jurisdiction of the metropolitan see within the Philippines.
Website
Website of the Archdiocese

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palo is a large administrative diocese of the Catholic Church in the town of Palo in Leyte province, Philippines. It was formed as a diocese on the 28th of November, 1937, and became an archdiocese in 1982, with Calbayog, Borongan, Catarman and Naval Diocese serving as suffragan to it. The archdiocese encompasses 4,620 km² (1,780 sq mi) and an overwhelmingly Catholic population of 1,165,565. The archdiocese has two districts, Eastern and Western, which are divided among the languages Waray and Cebuano. The Eastern District has seven vicariates of 34 parishes. 13 parishes are in the Western District, with one chaplaincy. The archdiocese contains two seminaries. The elder of these is the Sacred Heart Seminary, which was founded in 1944. Founded in 1988, the St. John Evangelist School of Theology serves additional dioceses. Jose S. Palma, a priest from the Archdiocese of Jaro was the Archbishop of Palo until he was appointed as Archbishop of Cebu

The Archdiocese of Palo was created as a diocese on November 28, 1937 and elevated to an archdiocese on November 15, 1982, with four neighboring dioceses of the metropolitan, to include Borongan, Calbayog, Catarman and Naval.

History

The province of Leyte to which the Archdiocese of Palo belongs was the scene of the first Mass in the Philippines celebrated by Fr. Pedro de Valderrama on March 31, 1521, Easter Sunday. The exact spot is the small island Limasawa on the southernmost tip of Leyte Island. However, formal work of evangelization did not start until 74 years later, when the Jesuits arrived in Kangara or Carigara, led by Fr. Pedro Chirino, S.J. with four priests and one brother companion on 16 July 1595. At that time there were settlements connected with each other by dirt roads. The missionaries had to work for the formation of the towns since the people were spread out over the lowlands and into the mountains. The population of about 70,000 came under the general control of local officials called encomenderos assigned to collect the tribute from the people. A constant difficulty the missionaries encountered in their efforts of spreading the Faith was the greediness of the tribute collectors and the carrying out of the Moro raids. These raids usually came during the monsoon season. The object of the raids was to capture slaves, to inflict physical damage to the towns and countryside, and to carry away any crop or booty. The captured slaves were to be later sold in Malaya, Macassar, or Java. The first major raid on record was made on October 28, 1603, composed of seventy ships and two thousand men. Palo and Dulag were burned, and captives were taken. A raid in 1613 resulted in the capture of four hundred people in Dulag alone. Another raid in 1634 brought heavy damage to Cabalian, Sogod, Baybay, and Ormoc. Members of the clergy were at times among the captives, some of whom were killed. The first missions were Carigara (1595), Dulag (1595), Palo (1596), Alangalang (1597), and Ormoc (1597). Early structures were made of light materials, but eventually they were replaced by stone structures, e.g. Tanauan (1714) and Abuyog (1718). Baptisms were preceded by a period of training in the Christian way of life. This period of training would often last for several months. In the Palo missions a small catechetical text was printed in the Visayan by Fr. Cristobal Himenes, as an aid in the preparation of candidates for baptism. By 1600 there were an estimated 6,000 people in the Palo Community, 1,000 of whom had been baptized. The same ratio was found in the twenty-five villages where the missionaries had chapels; there were 4,946 Christians in the total population of 24,500. By 1768 most residents of Leyte had been baptized. There were twenty established parishes in that year. Four of the parishes were in the North: Carigara, Barugo, Alangalang, Jaro. Eight of the parishes were in the west and south: Palompon, Ormoc, Baybay, Hilongos, Maasin, Sogod, Cabalian, and Hinunangan. Another eight parishes were in the east: Palo, Tanauan, Dulag, Abuyog, Dagami, Burauen, and, across the gulf in Samar Island), Basey and Balangiga. A hospital and boarding school were built in Dulag, while Carigara conducted a day school.

In 1768 the Jesuits were ordered to leave the Philippines, due to circumstances in Europe. They were replaced in Leyte by the Augustinians, who in 1834 ceded the parishes, the northeastern part to the Franciscans while the diocesan clergy of Cebu took over the parishes in the west and the south. In 1898 the Franciscans, as Spanish citizens, had to leave the country, and the diocesan clergy took over. Leyte had belonged to the Diocese of Cebu until 1910 and then belonged to the Diocese of Calbayog until 1937. On November 28, 1937 the Island of Leyte was canonically erected as a diocese in its own right, with the seat in Palo. On March 23, 1968, Palo was divided into two dioceses, the other diocese based in Maasin with Rev. Vicente T. Ataviado, D.D. as its first ordinary. The diocese of Maasin comprises the whole province of Southern Leyte including six municipalities southwest of Leyte. In 1988 the diocese was again divided with the creation of the Diocese of Naval, comprising the island north of Leyte called Biliran and four towns northeast of the province of Leyte facing the island of Biliran. The Diocese of Palo was elevated to an archdiocese on November 15, 1982. It was canonically erected as an archdiocese on February 14, 1983. It comprises the whole province of Leyte except 10 municipalities. It has four suffragan dioceses: Calbayog, Borongan, Catarman, and Naval. Its titular patron is the Transfiguration of Our Lord.

Archbishop of Palo

John Forrosuelo Du was installed as Archbishop of Palo on May 9, 2012 by the papal nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, at the Metropolitan Cathedral, Palo, Leyte.

Du was born in Bantayan, Cebu, on October 18, 1954. He completed his high school studies and attended a special course at Pope John XXIII Seminary. From 1971 to 1975 he studied philosophy at San Carlos Junior College of Cebu, and then theology in St. Augustine Major Seminary, under the SVD Fathers in Tagaytay City. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Cebu on June 1, 1979. After his priestly ordination he was assigned as assistant pastor for three years. In 1982 he was appointed professor at the Minor Seminary of Cebu, becoming later its procurator and rector. He became the spiritual director of the Missionaries of Charity in Cebu and a member of the committee of the ongoing formation of the clergy of the archdiocese.

He was elected titular bishop of Timici and auxiliary bishop of Cebu on November 21, 1997, and was consecrated on January 6, 1998. On April 21, 2001, he was transferred to the Diocese of Dumaguete. He was appointed treasurer of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, and chairman of the CBCP Pension Plan.

The archdiocese has 1.2 million Roman Catholic residents, 72 parishes, 1 quasi-parish, 2 chaplaincy and 13 mission stations/areas, divided into two districts: the Eastern District (the Waray-speaking, comprising the vicariates of Tacloban, Carigara, Burauen, Chancery seminary, Abuyog and Palo), and the Western District (Cebuano-speaking people which consist of the vicariates of Ormoc and Palompon)

Ordinaries

Archbishops of Palo

Picture	Name	From	Until
	Cipriano V. Urgel, D. D.	November 15, 1982	April 22, 1985, died
	Pedro R. Dean, D.D.	October 12, 1985	March 18, 2006, retired
	Jose S. Palma, D.D.	March 18, 2006	October 15, 2010, appointed, Archbishop of Cebu
	John F. Du, D.D.	February 25, 2012	present

Seminaries

• Sacred Heart Seminary, Palo, Leyte
• St. John The Evangelist School of Theology, Palo, Leyte

Parishes

Eastern District

Vicariate of Palo (16)

Cathedral of Our Lord's Transfiguration Parish at Palo

• Cathedral of Our Lord's Transfiguration Parish, Palo, Leyte
• Saint Joachim Parish, San Joaquin, Palo, Leyte
• Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Tanauan, Leyte
• Saint Michael the Archangel Parish, Tolosa, Leyte
• Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Pastrana, Leyte
• Saint Anne Parish, Santa Fe, Leyte
• Holy Trinity Parish, Alangalang, Leyte
• St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Tolosa, Leyte
• St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish (Libertad, Palo, Leyte)
• Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish (Pawing, Palo, Leyte)
• Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Mission Station (Dap-Dap, Alang-alang, Leyte)
• Divine Lord and Saviour Parish (Salvador, Tanauan, Leyte)
• St. Vincent Ferrer Parish (Canramos, Tanauan, Leyte)
• St. Roch Chaplaincy (Arado, Palo, Leyte)
• St. Teresa of Calcutta Mission Station (Castilla, Palo, Leyte)

Vicariate of Tacloban City (17)

Sto. Niño Parish Church in Tacloban

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish Church, Tacloban

Blessed Sacrament Parish Church, Tacloban

• Santo Niño Parish, Tacloban City
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Tacloban City
• Sacred Heart Parish, Tacloban City
• Saint Vincent Ferrer, Babatngon, Leyte
• Saint Jude Thaddeus Parish, PHHC, Tacloban City
• Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, V&G Subdivision, Tacloban City
• Saint Joseph Parish, San Jose, Tacloban City
• Blessed Sacrament Parish, Tigbao, Tacloban City
• Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Fatima Village, Tacloban City
• St. Raphael the Archangel Parish, Sagkahan, Tacloban City
• Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Abucay, Tacloban City
• Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish, Marasbaras, Tacloban City
• San Jose de Malibago Parish, Malibago, Babatngon, Leyte
• Virgen de Candelaria Parish
• St. Roch Quasi-Parish Manlurip, Tacloban City
• Our Lady of Hope of Palo Mission Area
• St. Josemaria Escriva Mission Station

Vicariate of Burauen (10)

St. Joseph Parish Church at Dagami

• Immaculate Conception Parish, Burauen, Leyte
• Saint Joseph Parish, Dagami, Leyte
• Saint Paschal Baylon Parish, Guinarona, Dagami, Leyte
• Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Tabon-Tabon, Leyte
• Saint Isidore Parish, Maghubas, Burauen, Leyte
• Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish, La Paz, Leyte
• Saint Roch Parish, Julita, Leyte
• Saint Anne Parish, Santa Ana, La Paz, Leyte
• Saint Roch Mission Station, Patoc, Dagami, Leyte
• Saint Vincent Ferrer Mission Area

Vicariate of Abuyog (11)

St. Francis Xavier Parish Church at Abuyog

• Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Abuyog, Leyte
• Alliance of the Two Hearts Parish
• Saint Pedro Calungsod Parish, Santa Fe, Abuyog, Leyte
• Saint Michael the Archangel Parish, Javier, Leyte
• Saint Isidore the Laborer Parish, MacArthur, Leyte
• Saint Michael the Archangel, Mahaplag Leyte
• Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Mayorga, Leyte
• Our Lady of Refuge Parish, Dulag Leyte
• Saint Joseph Parish, San Jose, Dulag, Leyte
• San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Mission Station Hampipila, Abuyog, Leyte
• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Mission Station Cabcungan, Dulag, Leyte

Vicariate of Carigara (10)

Holy Cross Parish Church at Carigara

• Holy Cross Parish, Carigara, Leyte
• Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Jugaban, Carigara, Leyte
• Saint Matthew the Apostle Parish, Jaro, Leyte
• Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Tunga Leyte
• Saint Joseph Parish, Barugo, Leyte
• Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Capoocan, Leyte
• Saint Michael the Archangel Parish, San Miguel, Leyte
• Saint Rose of Lima Mission Station, Santa Rosa, Barugo, Leyte
• Santa Cruz Mission Station, Santa Cruz, Jaro, Leyte
• Nuestra Señora de Salvacion Mission Station, Limon, Capoocan, Leyte

Western District

Vicariate of Ormoc City (15)

Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church at Ormoc

• Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Ormoc City
• Immaculate Conception Parish, Ipil, Ormoc City
• Mother of the Redeemer Parish, Cogon, Ormoc City
• San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Parish, Simangan, Ormoc City
• Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Valencia, Ormoc City
• Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Curva, Ormoc City
• Saint Mark the Evangelist Parish, Linao, Ormoc City
• San Jose Parish, San Jose, Ormoc City
• Saint Isidore the Laborer Parish, Mérida, Leyte
• Saint James the Apostle Parish, Albuera, Leyte
• Santo Niño Parish, Damulaan, Albuera, Leyte
• Holy Family Parish, Kananga, Leyte
• Saint John the Baptizer Parish, Tugbong, Kananga, Leyte
• Saint Pope John Paul II Mission Station, Punta, Ormoc City
• Saint Rita of Cascia Mission Station, Sitio Biasong, Brgy. Puertobello, Mérida, Leyte

Vicariate of Palompon (9)

St. Francis Xavier Parish Church at Palompon

• Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Palompon, Leyte
• Holy Infant Jesus Parish, Isabel, Leyte
• Saint Augustine Parish, Matlang, Isabel, Leyte
• Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Cantuhaon, Palompon, Leyte
• Saint Michael the Archangel Parish, San Miguel, Palompon, Leyte
• Holy Infant Jesus Parish, Villaba, Leyte
• Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish, Tagbubunga, Villaba, Leyte
• Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Matag-ob, Leyte
• Holy Spirit Chaplaincy, LIDE, Isabel, Leyte

Suffragan dioceses

Borongan, Calbayog, Catarman, Naval

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Churches in Leyte.

See also

• Roman Catholicism in the Philippines

Sources

• Archdiocese of Palo, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines

Coordinates: 11°09′34″N 124°59′28″E / 11.1594°N 124.9910°E / 11.1594; 124.9910